Patient-specific glenoid guide and implants

ABSTRACT

A method is disclosed for repairing a defect in an anatomical feature, the defect having a surface that defines a volume. The method includes receiving imaging data obtained using a medical imaging technique. The imaging data represents the anatomical feature. In one example, the method further includes creating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a mold for an implant based on the imaging data. The mold includes a cavity that replicates the volume of the defect. In another example, the method further includes creating a 3D model of an implant based on the imaging data. The implant is configured to fill the volume of the defect. In various implementations, the mold, the implant, and/or a replica of the implant are formed based on the 3D model of the mold or the 3D model of the implant. Guides and implants corresponding to the method are also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/552,079, filed on Oct. 27, 2011. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

This application is related to the following concurrently filed United States patent applications, each of which is incorporated herein by reference: “Patient-Specific Glenoid Guides” (Atty. Doc. No. 5490-000950/US); “Patient-Specific Glenoid Guide” (Atty. Doc. No. 5490-000950/US/01); and “Methods for Patient-Specific Shoulder Arthroplasty” (Atty. Doc. No. 5490-000950/US/03).

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to guides and implants, and more specifically, to patient-specific guides and implants for an anatomical feature such as a glenoid.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Shoulder joint reconstruction may require repairing a defect in a shoulder joint such as a void in a glenoid fossa resulting from severe wear. Current methods for reconstructing a shoulder joint sometimes are not sufficiently accurate to reproduce the natural movement of the shoulder joint such as glenoid version. Typically, surgical planning for a shoulder joint reconstruction is performed based on two-dimensional (2D) x-rays. During the procedure, a surgeon visually examines a defect and attempts to form an implant by hand that conforms to and fills the defect. The surgeon forms the implant from a material such as bone graft and shapes the material using a tool such as a chisel, a saw, or a knife.

Performing shoulder joint reconstructions in the manner described above can be tedious and time consuming. In addition, it is difficult to accurately form an implant by hand that conforms to a defect and fills the defect to provide a continuous surface with the surface surrounding the defect. Thus, the natural movement of the shoulder joint may not be reproduced.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

A method is disclosed for repairing a defect in an anatomical feature, the defect having a surface that defines a volume. The method includes receiving imaging data obtained using a medical imaging technique. The imaging data represents the anatomical feature. In one example, the method further includes creating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a mold for an implant based on the imaging data. The mold includes a cavity that replicates the volume of the defect. In another example, the method further includes creating a 3D model of an implant based on the imaging data. The implant is configured to fill the volume of the defect. In various implementations, the mold, the implant, and/or a replica of the implant are formed based on the 3D model of the mold or the 3D model of the implant. Guides and implants corresponding to the method are also disclosed.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating use of a medical imaging technique, such as a computed tomography (CT scan) or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to obtain imaging data representing a shoulder joint;

FIG. 2A is a three-dimensional (3D) model illustrating a perspective view of a scapula generated based on imaging data obtained using an imaging technique such as that illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the scapula illustrated in the 3D model of FIG. 2A taken along line 2B-2B shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a patient-specific guide or mold for modeling an implant for repairing a defect in a glenoid fossa according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the patient-specific mold of FIG. 3A taken along line 3B-3B shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a top view of the patient-specific mold of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a two-piece mold and bone graft for forming an implant for repairing a defect in a glenoid fossa according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an implant for repairing a defect in a glenoid fossa according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views illustrating placement of the implant of FIG. 5 in a defect in a glenoid fossa according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective and planar views, respectively, of a cut guide according to the principles of the present disclosure positioned on a glenoid fossa to create a void in the glenoid fossa; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating placement of an implant into the void in the glenoid fossa created using the cut guide of FIGS. 8A and 8B.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present teachings generally provide patient-specific surgical instruments that include, for example, molding guides or cutting/resection guides for use in shoulder joint replacement, shoulder resurfacing procedures and other procedures related to the shoulder joint or the various bones of the shoulder joint, including the glenoid and adjacent shoulder bones. The present teachings can be applied to anatomic shoulder replacement and reverse shoulder replacement. The patient-specific instruments can be used either with conventional implant components or with patent-specific implant components and/or bone grafts that are prepared using computer-assisted image methods according to the present teachings. Computer modeling for obtaining three-dimensional (3D) images of the patient's anatomy using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computed tomography (CT scan) of the patient's anatomy, the patient-specific prosthesis components and the patient-specific guides, templates and other instruments, can be designed using various CAD programs and/or software available. The present teachings also provide algorithms for use with related CAD programs.

The patient-specific instruments and any associated patient-specific implants and bone grafts can be generally designed and formed using computer modeling based on 3D anatomic image(s) generated from an x-ray, MRI, CT, ultrasound or other medical scans. Specifically, an anatomical feature (e.g., a scapula with or without surrounding soft tissue) can be imaged to detect certain features of the anatomy (e.g., dimensions, curvature of surfaces, etc.). Then, patient-specific instruments can be formed according to these measurements.

The patient-specific instrument can have a three-dimensional engagement surface that is complementary and made to conformingly contact the anatomical surface. Thus, the patient-specific instruments can be configured to fit at only one position to the anatomical surface. The patient-specific instruments can include custom-made guiding formations, such as, for example, guiding slots or receptacles that can be used for supporting or guiding other instruments, such as reamers, cutters, cutting guides and cutting blocks or for inserting pins or other fasteners according to a surgeon-approved pre-operative plan.

In various embodiments, the patient-specific instruments can also include one or more patient-specific alignment guides for receiving and guiding a tool, such as a pin or guide wire at corresponding patient-specific orientations relative to a selected anatomic axis for the specific patient. The patient-specific instruments can include guiding or orientation formations and features for guiding the implantation of patient-specific or off-the-shelf implants associated with the surgical procedure. The geometry, shape and orientation of the various features of the patient-specific instruments, as well as various patient-specific implants and bone grafts, if used, can be determined during the pre-operative planning stage of the procedure in connection with the computer-assisted modeling of the patient's anatomy. During the pre-operative planning stage, patient-specific instruments, custom, semi-custom or non-custom implants and other non-custom tools, can be selected and the patient-specific components can be manufactured for a specific-patient with input from a surgeon or other professional associated with the surgical procedure.

In the following discussion, the terms “patient-specific”, “custom-made” or “customized” are defined to apply to components, including tools, implants, portions or combinations thereof, which include certain geometric features, including surfaces, curves, or other lines, and which are made to closely conform as mirror-images or negatives or complementary surfaces of corresponding geometric features or anatomic landmarks of a patient's anatomy obtained or gathered during a pre-operative planning stage based on 3D computer images of the corresponding anatomy reconstructed from image scans of the patient by computer imaging methods. Further, patient-specific guiding features, such as, guiding apertures, guiding slots, guiding members or other holes or openings that are included in alignment guides, cutting guides, rasps or other instruments or in implants are defined as features that are made to have positions, orientations, dimensions, shapes and/or define cutting planes and axes specific to the particular patient's anatomy including various anatomic or mechanical axes based on the computer-assisted pre-operative plan associated with the patient.

The prepared patient-specific alignment guides can be configured to mate in alignment with natural anatomic landmarks by orienting and placing the corresponding alignment guide intra-operatively on top of the bone to mate with corresponding landmarks. The anatomic landmarks function as passive fiducial identifiers or fiducial markers for positioning of the various alignment guides, drill guides or other patient-specific instruments.

The various patient-specific alignment guides can be made of any biocompatible material, including, polymer, ceramic, metal or combinations thereof. The patient-specific alignment guides can be disposable and can be combined or used with reusable and non-patient-specific cutting and guiding components.

More specifically, the present teachings provide various embodiments of patient-specific glenoid guides. The glenoid guides of the present teachings can have patient-specific engagement surfaces that reference various portions of the shoulder joint and include guiding slots or other guiding formations that can accurately position a guide wire for later glenoid preparation and implantation procedures and for alignment purposes, including implant position control, implant version control, implant inclination control.

In the following, when of portion of a glenoid guide is described as “referencing” or “conforming to” a portion of the anatomy, it will be understood that the referencing or conforming portion of the glenoid guide is a patient-specific portion mirroring or forming a negative of the corresponding anatomic portion.

Patient-specific guides and implants according to the principles of the present disclosure are used to repair a defect in an anatomical feature such as a void in a glenoid fossa due to severe wear. Each guide and implant is designed for the unique anatomy of a specific patient based on a 3D model. The 3D model is generated based on imaging data obtained using a medical imaging technique such as a CT scan or a MRI.

In one example, a 3D model of a mold for an implant is created based on the imaging data, and the mold is formed based on the 3D model. A surgeon may then use the mold to form an implant. The mold may be a two-piece mold that allows a surgeon to insert bone graft into the mold and then apply pressure to the mold to form the implant. In another example, a 3D model of the implant is created based on the imaging data. The implant and/or a replica of the implant may then be directly formed based on the 3D model thereof. The surgeon may create the implant based on the 3D model and/or the replica of the implant.

Creating the implant based on a 3D model of a specific patient's anatomy ensures that the implant accurately conforms to a defect and fills the defect to provide a continuous surface with the surface surrounding the defect. Thus, the natural movement of a shoulder joint, including glenoid version, may be reproduced. In addition, a surgeon may create the implant pre-operatively, which reduces the amount of time that the surgeon may spend in an operating room. The guides and implants described herein may be used for both anatomic and reverse shoulder joint replacements.

Referring to FIG. 1, a medical imaging technique for obtaining imaging data representing a shoulder joint 10 is illustrated. The shoulder joint 10 includes a clavicle 12, a scapula 14 having a glenoid fossa 16, and a humerus 18 having a head 20 that articulates within the glenoid fossa 16. Medical imaging techniques that may be employed to obtain imaging data according to the principles of the present disclosure include a CT scan, a MRI, an x-ray, and an ultrasound. An imaging device 21, such as a CT or MRI scanner, scans the shoulder joint 10 to generate imaging data representing the shoulder joint 10. The imaging data may represent two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) images of the shoulder joint 10. In one example, the imaging data represents 2D sliced images of the shoulder joint 10 depicting cross-sections of the shoulder joint 10 that are approximately 1 millimeter (mm) apart from each other.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a 3D model 22 of the scapula 14, including the glenoid fossa 16, is illustrated. The 3D model 22 is generated based on imaging data obtained using a medical imaging technique such as that illustrated in FIG. 1. The 3D model 22 may be generated using software that generates 3D models of an anatomical feature based on 2D or 3D imaging data corresponding to the anatomical feature. In one example, the 3D model 22 is generated using a process referred to as segmentation in which 2D sliced images are converted into a 3D model.

The scapula 14 includes an articular surface 24 which the humeral head 20 articulates relative to and a non-articular or perimeter surface 26 that surrounds the articular surface 24. The articular surface 24 forms the concave glenoid fossa 16 that receives the humeral head 20. The glenoid fossa 16 further includes a defect 28, such as a void in the articular surface 24 due to severe wear. The articular surface 24 includes an outer surface 30 completely surrounding the defect 28 and an irregular surface 32 at the location of the defect 28. The irregular surface 32 may be recessed relative to the outer surface 30, as shown, which results in a depression or void in the glenoid fossa 16.

Referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, a mold 50 for an implant for repairing a defect in an anatomical feature, such as the defect 28 in the glenoid fossa 16 shown in FIG. 1, is illustrated. The mold 50 is created based on a 3D model such as the 3D model 22 of FIG. 2A. The mold 50 may be formed from a material such as plastic (e.g., nylon) and/or metal (e.g., stainless steel) using a manufacturing process such as machining (e.g., milling), molding, and/or additive manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing).

The mold 50 includes a cavity 52 that replicates a volume of the defect 28. In other words, the defect 28 defines a volume and the cavity 52 replicates or is the same as the volume. The cavity 52 includes a first surface 54 that matches an actual surface of the defect such as the irregular surface 32 of FIGS. 2 A and 2B. The cavity 52 can include a second surface 56 that matches an outer surface of the anatomical feature surrounding the defect such as the outer surface 30. Thus, the second surface 56 may match the portion of the articular surface 24 of the glenoid fossa 16 that surrounds the defect 28 in the glenoid fossa 16. The mold 50 may be an open design, as shown, or the mold may be a closed design with a riser that allows insertion of implant material, such as bone graft, into the cavity 52. By having the first and second surfaces 54, 56 in the mold 50, an implant can be precisely made to fit the defect volume, as well as match the articular surface.

A 3D model of the mold 50, such as the 3D model 22 of FIG. 2A, may be provided to a surgeon before the mold 50 is formed. The surgeon may then review the 3D model and provide direction regarding the mold 50 such as the desired contour of the second surface 56. The surgeon can provide direction in the form of sketches and/or written instructions. Additionally or alternatively, the surgeon may alter the 3D model to communicate design changes. The mold 50 may then be formed based on the 3D model and/or the surgeon's instructions, and the mold 50 may be provided to the surgeon.

The surgeon may use the mold 50 to form an implant for repairing the defect, for example, by filling the 3D volume of the defect. The surgeon may form the implant from a material such as bone graft and shape the implant using a tool such as a chisel, a saw, knife, or a mill. The bone graft may include autologous bone, allograft bone, xenograft bone, cortical bone, cancellous bone, and/or synthetic bone including porous ceramic, such as Cerament™, having a density similar to that of cortical or cancellous bone.

The surgeon may use the mold 50 preoperatively or intraoperatively to alter the shape of the bone graft to conform to the first surface 54 and to cooperate with the second surface 56 to form a smooth, arcuate, continuous surface. To achieve this, the surgeon may insert the bone graft into the portion of the cavity 52 that replicates the defect (i.e., the portion defined by the first surface 54). The surgeon may then use the mold 50 and/or a tool, such as a chisel, a saw, or a knife, to alter the shape of the bone graft to match both the first and second surfaces 54, 56. In this regard the surgeon can shape the graft material and fit it into the mold 50 to first confirm that the first surface 54 is matched to completely fill the defect volume. Once this is achieved, the surgeon will then shape the graft material to conform to the articular surface replicated by the second surface 56. When the bone graft forms a continuous surface with the second surface 56, the bone graft and the second surface 56 may cooperate to form a desired shape of the articulate surface 24, such as a concave shape, with minimal irregularities such as ridges, gaps, or abrupt contour changes.

In one example, the bone graft may be have a density similar to that of cortical bone and the surgeon may alter the shape of the bone graft by, for example, chiseling, sawing, or cutting the bone graft. The surgeon may alternate between shaping the implant and placing the implant in the mold cavity 52 to determine whether the implant conforms to the first surface 54 and forms a continuous or contiguous surface with the second surface 56. The surgeon may continue in this manner until the surgeon is satisfied that the implant conforms to the first surface 54 and forms a continuous surface with second surface 56. In this regard, the mold 50 may serve as a trialing mold. When the bone graft is inserted into portion of the cavity 52 that replicates the defect and the bone graft is engaging the first surface 54, the surgeon may use the second surface 56 as a visual reference to shape the exposed surface of the bone graft to form a continuous surface with the second surface 56, thus forming the bone graft to also have first and second surfaces. Once surface fits into the defect volume and the other surface matches the articular surface.

In another example, the bone graft may be malleable, compressible, and/or formable and the surgeon may alter the shape of the bone graft by inserting the bone graft into the portion of the cavity 52 that replicates the defect and applying pressure. In turn, the first surface 54 of the cavity 52 may make an impression in the bone graft that mimics or mirrors the first surface 54. The surgeon may then use the second surface 56 as a visual reference to shape the exposed surface of the bone graft to form a continuous surface with the second surface 56. In one example, only the portion of the bone graft that engages the first surface 54 may be malleable, compressible, and/or formable, the exposed surface may be on a portion of the bone graft having a density similar to that of cortical bone, and the surgeon may shape the exposed surface in the manner described above (e.g., by chiseling, sawing, or cutting the bone graft). In another example, all of the bone graft may be malleable, compressible, and/or formable, and the surgeon may shape the exposed surface by sculpting the bone graft, carving the bone graft, and/or removing portions of the bone graft.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a mold 100 for an implant for repairing a defect in an anatomical feature, such as the defect 28 of FIG. 1, is illustrated. The mold 100 is created based on a 3D model such as the 3D model 22 of FIG. 2A. The mold 100 may be formed from a material such as plastic (e.g., nylon) and/or metal (e.g., stainless steel) using a manufacturing process such as machining (e.g., milling), molding, and/or additive manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing).

The mold 100 includes a first member or piece 102 and a second member or piece 104. The first member 102 includes a first cavity 106 having a first surface 108 that matches the actual surface of the defect such as the irregular surface 32 or volume of the defect 28 of FIGS. 2A and 2B. The second member 104 includes a second cavity 110 having a second surface 112 that matches a desired surface of the anatomical feature at the location of the defect, or the desired portion of the articular surface that a surgeon is attempting to create at the location of the defect in order to reproduce natural movement such as glenoid version. The desired surface may cooperate with the outer surface of the anatomical feature surrounding the defect, such as the outer surface 30 of FIGS. 2A and 2B, to form a continuous surface. The continuous surface may be concave with minimal irregularities and gradual curvature changes. In various implementations, portions of the first surface 108 and/or the second surface 112 may be divided between the first member 102 and the second member 104.

A 3D model of the mold 100, such as the 3D model 22 of FIG. 2A, may be provided to a surgeon before the mold 100 is formed. The surgeon may then review the 3D model and provide direction regarding the mold 100 such as the desired contour of the second surface 112. The surgeon can provide direction in the form of sketches and/or written instructions. Additionally or alternatively, the surgeon may alter the 3D model to communicate design changes. The mold 100 may then be formed based on the 3D model and/or the surgeon's instructions, and the mold 100 may be provided to the surgeon.

The surgeon may use the mold 100 preoperatively or intraoperatively to form an implant for repairing the defect. The surgeon may form the implant from a material such as bone graft 114. The shape of the bone graft 114 shown in FIG. 4 represents one possible shape of the bone graft before the shape of the bone graft 114 is altered to form the implant. The bone graft 114 may include autologous bone, allograft bone, cortical bone, cancellous bone, and/or synthetic bone having a density similar to that of cortical or cancellous bone.

The surgeon may insert the bone graft 114 into the first cavity 106 and/or the second cavity 110. The surgeon may then bring the first and second members 102, 104 together and apply pressure to the first and second members 102, 104 using, for example, a press. The surgeon may apply pressure to surfaces 116, 118 of the first and second members 102, 104, respectively. The applied pressure causes the mold 100 to collapse onto the bone graft 114 and make an impression on the bone graft 114, altering the shape of the bone graft 114 to create the geometry needed to repair the defect.

The bone graft 114 may be malleable, compressible, and/or formable so that the surgeon may alter the shape of the bone graft 114 by pressing the first and second members 102, 104 together. In one example, all of the bone graft 114 may be malleable, compressible, and/or formable. In another example, only an outer portion of the bone graft 114 may be malleable, compressible, and/or formable, and a core portion of the bone graft 114 may have a density similar to that of cortical bone.

Due to the two-piece design of the mold 100, it may not be necessary to include a surface on the mold 100, such as the second surface 56 on the mold 50, which matches the portion of the articular surface surrounding the defect (e.g., the outer surface 30). As described above, a surgeon may insert bone graft into the mold 50 and use the second surface 56 as a visual reference when shaping the exposed surface of the bone graft to create a continuous, concave articular surface. In contrast, the second surface 112 of the mold 100 may be designed to form the bone graft into the concave articular surface, eliminating the need for a visual reference for creating such a surface.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an implant 150 for repairing a defect in an anatomical feature, such as by filling the volume of the defect 28 of FIGS. 2A and 2B, is illustrated. The implant 150 represents the final product after bone graft is shaped to match the surface of the defect (e.g., the irregular surface 32 of FIGS. 2A and 2B) and to form a continuous surface with the surface surrounding the defect (e.g., the outer surface 30 of FIGS. 2A and 2B). The implant 150 can be formed using a mold such as the mold 50 of FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C or the mold 100 of FIG. 4. In other words, the implant 150 includes at least two distinct surfaces—a first surface 152, which nests and fill the volume of the defect, and a second surface 154, which matches the surrounding articular surface. The implant 150 can be formed from bone graft such as autologous bone, allograft bone, xenograft bone, cortical bone, cancellous bone, and/or synthetic bone including porous ceramic, such as Cerament™, having a density similar to that of cortical or cancellous bone. Alternatively, the implant 150 can be formed from a porous metal (e.g., Regenerex®) and a surgeon may insert growth factor and/or cancellous bone into the implant 150.

The implant 150 includes a first surface 152 and a second surface 154. The first surface 152 conforms to an actual surface of the defect such as the irregular surface 32 of FIGS. 2A and B. The second surface 154 matches a desired surface of the anatomical feature at the location of the defect. The second surface 154 may cooperate with the outer surface of the anatomical feature surrounding the defect, such as the outer surface 30 of FIGS. 2A and 2B, to form a continuous surface. The continuous surface may be a concave articular surface with minimal irregularities (e.g., ridges, crevices).

A replica of an implant for repairing a defect in an anatomical feature, such as the defect 28 of FIG. 2, may appear similar to the implant 150. A surgeon may use the replica as a visual reference when preoperatively or intraoperatively creating an implant to repair a defect. In other words, the surgeon can visually confirm that the implant matches the defect three-dimensionally to ensure that the implant will conform to the surface of the defect and match the articular surface. Thus, the replica may serve as a trialing replica. The replica may be formed from a material such as plastic (e.g., nylon) and/or metal (e.g., stainless steel) using a manufacturing process such as machining (e.g., milling), molding, and/or additive manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing).

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, placement of the implant 150 onto the defect 28 in the glenoid fossa 16 is illustrated. Before placing the implant 150 onto the defect 28, a surgeon may apply growth factor to the implant 150 to facilitate formation of a bond between the implant 150 and the glenoid fossa 16. When placing the implant 150 onto the defect 28, the surgeon may align an outer perimeter 156 of the implant 150 with an outer perimeter 158 of the defect 28. The first surface 152 of the implant 150 may be designed to match the irregular surface 32 of the defect such that there is only one way for the implant 150 to fit onto the defect 28. Once the implant 150 is in position, the second surface 154 may cooperate with the outer surface 30 surrounding the defect 28 to form a continuous, concave articular surface. The surgeon may then secure the implant 150 to the glenoid fossa 16 using fasteners 160 such as screws or Kirschner wires (K-wires), as shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, a cut guide 200 is shown fixed to the glenoid fossa 16 near a defect 201 such as a void in the glenoid fossa 16 due to severe wear. The cut guide 200 is created based on a 3D model of the glenoid fossa 16 similar to the 3D model 22 of FIG. 2. The cut guide 200 may be formed from a material such as plastic (e.g., nylon) and/or metal (e.g., stainless steel) using a manufacturing process such as machining (e.g., milling), molding, and/or additive manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing).

The cut guide 200 includes a handle 202, a locating member 204, and a guide member 206. The locating member 204 engages an irregular surface 207 a of the defect 201 to locate the cut guide 200 relative to the glenoid fossa 16. To this end, the locating member 204 may include a nesting surface 207 b that nestingly engages the irregular surface 207 a or volume of the defect 201 such that there is only one way for the cut guide 200 to fit onto the scapula 14. Once located, the cut guide 200 may be fixed to the glenoid fossa 16 using fasteners 208 such as screws. A cutting tool may then be inserted into elongated cutting slots 210, 212 in the guide member 206. The slots 210, 212 guide the cutting tool along cut lines 214, 216, respectively. The cutting tool may be inserted into the glenoid fossa 16 at a desired depth using, for example, depth markings.

Referring to FIG. 9, a void 250 in the glenoid fossa 16 created using a cut guide such as the cut guide 200, and an implant 252 that conforms to and fills the void 250, are illustrated. The cut guide used to create the void 250 may be designed such that the void 250, and therefore the implant 252, have the shape of a 90-degree wedge, as shown. Although the shape of the void 250 and the implant 252 may be referred to as a 90-degree wedge, an angle θ between surfaces 254, 256 of the implant 252 and between respective mating surfaces 258, 260 on the implant 252 may be slightly less than 90 degrees. As a result, once the implant 252 is implanted in the glenoid fossa 16, the portion of the glenoid fossa 16 surrounding the implant 252 may exert a pressure on the implant 252 that facilitates integration of the implant 252.

The implant 252 can be formed using a patient-specific mold, such as the mold 50 of FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C or the mold 100 of FIG. 4, to match the surface of the void 250 and to form a continuous surface with the articular surface surrounding the void 250. The implant 252 can be formed from bone graft such as autologous bone, allograft bone, xenograft bone, cortical bone, cancellous bone, and/or synthetic bone including porous ceramic, such as Cerament™, having a density similar to that of cortical or cancellous bone. Alternatively, the implant 252 can be formed from a porous metal (e.g., Regenerex®) and a surgeon may insert growth factor and/or cancellous bone into the implant 150.

When the void 250 is created, a portion of the articular surface 24 may be removed as well as a portion of the perimeter surface 26 surrounding the articular surface 24. Thus, the implant 252 may include an outer surface 262 that forms a continuous or contiguous surface with both the articular surface 24 and the perimeter surface 26. The outer surface 262 may be more complex than the surfaces 254, 256 of the implant 252. Thus, if the patient-specific mold used to form the implant 252 is a one-piece mold, the mold may include a surface that mirrors the outer surface 262 of the implant 252 instead of including a surface that mirrors the surface of the defect.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for forming a mold for use in repairing a defect in an anatomical feature, the defect having a surface that defines a volume, the method comprising: receiving imaging data obtained using a medical imaging technique, the imaging data representing the anatomical feature; creating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a mold for an implant based on the imaging data, the mold including a cavity that replicates the volume of the defect; and forming the mold based on the 3D model.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the anatomical feature includes at least one of a glenoid fossa and a humerus.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the medical imaging technique includes at least one of a computed tomography (CT scan), a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and an x-ray.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming the implant using the mold.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising designing the mold to include a first portion having a first surface that matches the surface of the defect defining the volume.
 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising designing the mold to include a second portion having a second surface for defining a portion of an articular surface at the location of the defect.
 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising designing the mold such that the first portion is part of a first piece and the second portion is part of a second piece that is separate from the first piece.
 8. The method of claim 6 further comprising designing the second surface to cooperate with an outer surface of the anatomical feature surrounding the defect to form a continuous surface.
 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating a 3D model of a guide based on the imaging data, the guide being configured to position a cutting tool relative to the anatomical feature as the cutting tool is used to create a void in the anatomical feature.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the guide includes a nesting surface configured to engage the surface of the defect defining the volume to position the guide relative to the anatomical feature.
 11. A method for forming an implant for use in repairing a defect in an anatomical feature, the defect having a surface that defines a volume, the method comprising: receiving imaging data obtained using a medical imaging technique, the imaging data representing the anatomical feature; and creating a three-dimensional (3D) model of an implant based on the imaging data, the implant being configured to fill the volume of the defect, the implant including a first surface that conforms to the defect surface that defines the volume and a second surface that forms a portion of an articular surface at the location of the defect.
 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing the 3D model to a medical professional for use in forming the implant.
 13. The method of claim 11 further comprising forming a replica of the implant based on the 3D model.
 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing the replica of the implant to a medical professional for use in forming the implant.
 15. The method of claim 11 further comprising forming the implant based on the 3D model.
 16. A mold for forming an implant for use in repairing a defect in an articular surface of an anatomical feature, the mold comprising: a first portion having a first surface that matches a surface that defines a volume of the defect; and a second portion having a second surface that cooperates with the first surface to form a cavity that replicates at least a portion of the articular surface surrounding the defect.
 17. The mold of claim 16 wherein the anatomical feature includes at least one of a glenoid fossa and a humerus.
 18. The mold of claim 16 wherein the mold is configured to receive material for forming the implant.
 19. The mold of claim 16 wherein the first portion is part of a first piece and the second portion is part of a second piece that is separate from the first piece.
 20. The mold of claim 19 wherein the mold is configured to shape the implant to conform to and fill the defect when pressure is applied to the mold. 